Knock-down table or the like



1967 R. E. M CLELLAN KNOCK-DOWN TABLE OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1965 I INVENTOR. RALPH E. MCCLELLAN ATTORN EY Jan. 3, 1967 R. E. M CLELLAN 3,295,475

7 KNOCK-DOWN TABLE OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 5, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 2 F G 7 INVENTOR.

RALPH E. McCLELLAN AT TOP N EY Jan; 3, 1967 R. E. MCCLELLAN 3,295,475

KNOCK-DOWN TABLE OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 3, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 FIG. IO

FIG. H

INVENTOR. RALPH E. MQCLELLAN ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,295,475 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,475 KNOCK-DOWN TABLE OR THE LHKE Ralph E. McClellan, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Meilink Steel Safe Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 484,832 20 Claims. (Cl. 108-153) This invention relates to horizontally supported planar surfaces and is particularly directed to articles of furniture such as tables and the like wherein a top member is supported by detachable or separable leg members.

An object of the invention is to provide an article of the class described having a minimum of parts easily and quickly assembled for use and disassembled for shipment or storage, and that is economically produced of light but durable materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light weight knock-down table that is readily portable in either assembled or disassembled condition and that is suitable for supporting typewriters and other similar machines as well as for general utility uses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table that may be fabricated primarily of metal or sheet metal .parts comprising a top or planar surface and supporting legs therefor of tubular form provided with means for detachably securing the parts together as well as means for bracing the structure to produce a substantially unita-ry rigid member.

Another object of the invention is to improve the knockdown support means disclosed in Strand US. Patent No. 2,794,496 issued June 4, 1957.

Generally speaking the invention comprises a table top or similar generally horizontal supporting surface provided with means such as bar members of channel form transversely notched to receive, the bight portions of inverted generally U-shaped leg members, the channelled bar members bein further provided with additional notches or book means to receive bail members pivotally connected to the leg members to secure the leg members to the lower surface of the table top, there being further longitudinal and transverse brace means between the lower leg portions to retain the legs in stabilizing position.

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be understood best by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table structure incorporating an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an inverted side elevation of the table shown in FIG. 1, illustrating, in broken lines, the bails hooked into position prior to elevating the legs, as well as an alternate position forthe legs;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the channel members mounted under the table top shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan View of one of the bail members;

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a modified form of the invention incorporated in a table structure with part of the top broken away;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one of the supporting means shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional detail view of the structure shown in FIG. 5 to illustrate details of the tensioning means;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further modification showing a pair of supporting leg means which have been provided with a modified shelf type tensioning and stabilizing means with the top removed;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail view showing an interlock between the leg and tension means of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail view on a line XX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional detail view on a line XI-XI of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of a book end having an ofiset leg for assembly with the slotted shelf shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a shelf similar to that shown in FIG. 8, and showing adjustable book ends in place thereon; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of still 'a further modification similar to FIG. ,8 but having a pair of supporting legs having a modified form of stabilizing means which provides both lateral and longitudinal tension thereon, and with the top removed.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated as including a generally rectangular platform or table top member 20 having a lower surface 22. The top member 20 may be of wood, plywood, plastic, metal or other suitable material of any desired shape. A pair of channel members 24 may be secured to the lower surface 22, one member 24 being adjacent one side and the other adjacent the opposite side of thetop member 20. As shown, members 24 extend longitudinally and in substantially parallel, transversely spaced relation with respect to the top 29 illustrated.

The channel members 24 may be of channel-bar form in cross-section (FIG. 3) with the channel opening downwardly to provide depending side flanges 26 in the edges I of which may be provided pairs of transversely aligned arcuate notches 28 and 39 adjacent each end thereof. The opposite ends of each flange 26 terminate in hook portions 34 which extend upwardly toward the lower surface 22 of top 20.

Depending from opposite ends of channel members 24 are supporting means 42 and 43 of general torus, pi or inverted U-shape, each being comprised of a pair of tubular leg members 44 and 45 welded or otherwise secured to a cross member 47 which may project outwardly beyond each leg 44 and 45. When assembled with the top member 29, as shown, the cross members 47, have a bearing engagement in the notches 28 or 39 and may be retained in such position by link or bail means 48. The bails 48 may be of U-shape having inturned leg ends 49 and 50 pivotally received in apertures in legs 44 and 45, so that the bights 52 may be engaged with the hooks 34.

Stabilizing or brace means, which may take the form of an H-shaped member 60 formed of a longitudinally extending rod 61 having a cross or transverse rod 63 at each end thereof, may be positioned between the legs, as shown, to rigidly locate the legs with respect to the top as well as each other. The ends of the rods 63 may be received in holes 65 in the legs 44 and 45, each pair of legs being biased inwardly or the rods 63 may be of a length to require spreading the legs slightly to insert the ends into the holes 65.

Assembly of the supporting means with the top 26 may be accomplished as shown in FIG. 2, wherein it will be noted that bights of the bails 48 are engaged with the hooks 34 when the supporting means 42' and 43' are in the dotted line positions shown so that the cross members 47 are spaced from the notches 28 or 30. Then the crossmembers 47 are subsequently moved toward such notch 28 or 30 and snapped thereinto against the tension of the bails. The stabilizing or brace means 60 is then positioned between the lower ends of the legs to not only 10- cate the legs but also cooperate with bails 48 to retain the cross members 47 in position in the notches. When the members 47 are in notches 30, the legs are outwardly inclined from the top, while when the members 47 are in rlotches 28, the legs are substantially normal thereto and with respect to top 20 as shown by dotted lines 42" and 43" in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the modified form of the invention 'shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the supporting means 70 and 71 at opposite ends of the channel members 24 may be of generally A-shape, each including a pair of spaced leg members 72 and 73 connected at their upper ends by a cross member 75 which may be integral therewith. Intermediate the cross member 75 and the lower ends of legs 72 and 73 is a cross bar or rod 77 which may be welded in position to-form a substantially integral, rigid A frame support or leg structure.

As particularly shown in FIG. 5, stabilizing or brace means in the form of a plate, tray or bar 80 of desired width may be positioned between the cross bars 77 longitudinally of and substantially parallel with the table top to rigidly position the supporting means 70 and 71 with respect to each other. As illustrated, the plate or tray 80 is formed with arcuate end portions or hook means 82 having radii to snugly embrace the bars 77, preferably with a snap fit. Additionally, the tray 80 is of a length to apply a slight tension to, or draw the supporting means 70 and 71 together.

Referring now to FIG. 8, another form of supporting and brace means has been shown as comprising leg assemblies 85 and 86 each including a pair of spaced legs '87 and 88 connected at their upper ends by a cross member 90 to which a table top (not shown) may be secured by the links 48 in the same manner as the previous forms of the invention. Spaced from the lower end of each leg 87 and 88 is a hole 92 located as shown to receive a cross spread so that rod 94 ends 95 may be snapped into engage- V merit under tension.

Another form of shelf stabilizing or brace means 98 is also shown in FIG. 8, which shelf 98 may have rolled side edges 100 as shown in FIG. and similarly formed rolled hook ends 112 as in FIG. 11. The corners of the shelf 98 may be cut out rectangularly as at 114 so that shelf 98 may he slid along rods 94 to engage the inside of the opposite legs 87 and 88 of each pair as shown in FIG. 8, to lock the leg assemblies 85 and86 in. set-up position thereby further stabilizing the whole structure. noted also that by sliding the shelf 98 into its leg assembly locking position as shown in FIG.'8, space has been provided adjacent one side of the structure to accommodate the feet and legs of the person using the table.

Another feature of the shelf 98 or 122 shown in FIG. 13, is that a series of longitudinally spaced slits or slots 116 has been provided for receiving offset supporting legs 118 of a pair of book ends 120, .one of which is shown in FIG. 12. The book end 120 may be generally similar to a conventional sheet metal one except for leg 118 which is off-set between its ends to be hooked into one of the slots 116.

In FIG. 13 is shown a slightly modified shelf 122 which may be substituted for shelf 98, the corners 124 being :arcuately cut out rather than of rectangular form as in FIG. 8. The cut-outportions 124 may he slid over to engage the legs 87 and 88 to lock the leg assemblies in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 8.

A further embodiment of leg tensioning and stabilizing means is shown in FIG. 14 where it will be noted that as in FIG. 8, the leg assemblies 85 and 86 may also be of generally inverted U-shape, each including a pair of spaced legs 87 and 88 connected at their upper ends by a cross member 90 and carrying links 48. Spaced from It will be the lower end of each leg 87 and 88 is a hole 92 positioned as shown.

Brace means, indicated generally at 125, is inclusive of a longitudinally extending rod '127 having a cross or transverse rod 128 at each end thereof. Rod 127 is positioned off-center of rods 128 and when assembled with the legs may be located toward what may be considered An additional rod means 130 may 1 have a central portion 131 parallel and fixed to rod 127 the rear of the table.

and diagonal end portions 133 and 134 secured to opposite transverse rods 128 adjacent the ends thereof opposite to the ends adjacent which the rod 127 is attached. Rods 127, 128 and 130 may be Welded or otherwise secured to gether to provide a unitary, rigid structure, the end portions 136 of rods 128 being turned inwardly to enter the.

holes 92. The end portions 136 may be notched in the same manner as ends of rods 94 as shown in FIG. 9.

to inter-lock with an edge of the holes 92; the legs 87 and 88 being initially spread slightly so that when the brace be clearly understood that this description is made only; by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A knock-dorm support comprising: (a) a pair of parallel horizontally disposed top members provided with longitudinally disposed and laterally spaced notched and hook means, (b) a pair of generally U-shaped tubular leg elements having the base portion of each U-shaped element engageable in said notch means,

(c) bail means pivotally secured to said leg portions of said U-shaped elements and engageable in said hook means to fix said leg elements to said members, and

(d) tension means disposed between said leg elements and between the leg portions of each of said leg elements to stabilize all of said leg elements and to tension said bail means. 2. A knock-down support for a platform means comprising:

(a) at least one pair of spaced seats on said platform means,

(b) at least one pair of hook means adjacent and on opposite outer sides of said seats, (c) at least one pair of support members having ends locatable in said seats, and fastening means adjacent 1 said ends,

((1) at least one pair of link means connected between said hook and said fastening means, and

(e) tension means removably connected between said support members spaced from said seats and fasten- 7 ing means for maintaining said ends of said members in said seats and said link means in engagement with said hook and said fastening means.

3. A support according to claim 2 including "a pair'of parallel channel members attached to said platform means which contains said seats and said hook means 1 adjacent the ends of said channel members.

4. A support according to claim 2 wherein each of said support members comprises a pi-shaped member, and

said seats comprise notches.

5. A support according to claim 4 wherein said tension means comprises rod means formed into a H-shape with each end connected to a leg of the pair of pi-shaped mem-,

bers.

6. A knock-down article of furniture comprising:

(a) a rectangular top member,

(b) upstanding hook means fixed to said top member adjacent opposite sides thereof,

(c) a support member at each side of said top member,

(d) each support member comprising a pair of legs and a cross member integral with the upper ends of the legs,

(e) bail means pivotally connected to said legs having bight portions engaging said hook means, and

(f) tension means bridging said legs adjacent their lower ends to retain said bail means in said hook means.

7. An article of furniture according to claim 6 including seat means adjacent said hook means for said cross members.

8. An article of furniture comprising:

(a) a substantially rectangular top member,

(b) channel members secured to the under surface of said rectangular top member,

('0) said channel members having side walls formed with seating notches and hook means,

(d) a pair of supports for said top member, each support including a pair of legs having spacing means at their upper ends received in said seating notches,

(e) bail means pivoted to said legs having bight portions engaging said hook means, and

(f) tension means bridging said legs beneath said top member and to maintain said bail means in said hook means.

9. An article of furniture according to claim 8 in which the tension means comprises a plate member.

10. An article of furniture according to claim 8 in which the supports each include an additional spacing means adjacent the lower ends of said legs.

11. An article of furniture according to claim 10 in which the tension means includes a tray member having hook means in engagement with said additional spacing means.

12. A knock-down article of furniture comprising:

(a) a top member,

(b) a pair of substantially parallel transversely spaced channel members secured to the lower surface of said top member, a

(c) said channel members having side walls provided with transversely aligned notches adjacent each end and terminating in upwardly projected hook portions, (d) a support member at each end of said channel members,

(e) each support member comprising a pair of legs having a transverse cross member connecting their upper ends and having bearing engagement in said aligned notches,

(f) bail means pivotally connected to said legs having lbight portions engaging said hook portions, and

(g) tension means bridging said legs adjacent their lower ends to retain said cross members in said notches and said bail means in said hook portions.

13. A knock-down articles of furniture according to claim 12 in which each support member has a second cross member adjacent the lower ends of said legs.

14. A knock-down article of furniture according to claim 13 in which the tension means comprises a plate member connected to said second cross members.

15. A knock-down article of furniture according to claim 14 wherein said plate member includes notched corners for interlocking with said legs.

16. A knock-down article of furniture according to claim 12 wherein said tension means includes notched hook means engaging said legs.

17. An article of furniture comprising:

(a) a top member,

(b) a pair of supports for said top member, each support including a pair of tubular legs each having a hole in the wall thereof adjacent its lower end,

(c) notch and pivoted link means to attach the upper ends of said supports to said top member, and

(d) tensioning means for said supports, said tensioning means including a rod extending 'between each leg of said pair of legs and having hooked end portions disposed in the holes in said legs and means extending between said rods for holding said supports together.

18. An article of furniture according to claim 17 wherein said rod means includes notch means in said hooked ends to apply tension to said legs and retain said rod ends in the holes in said legs.

19. An article of furniture according to claim 17 wherein said tensioning means extending between said rods comprises a shelf having hooked ends engaging said rods.

20. An article of furniture according to claim 19 wherein said shelf has transverse slots therein, and a book end means engageable in at least one of said slots.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 225,352 3/1880 Mott 108-116 434,240 8/1890 Bon 108-116 603,351 5/1898 Turpin 182-155 X 603,474 5/1898 Sebold 108-153 X 788,368 4/1905 Muttart 182-155 930,394 8/1909 Le Bourgeois 248- X 933,650 9/1909 Kramer 182-155 1,350,713 8/1920 Ferdon 220-55 1,381,855 6/1921 Ashcraft 220-55 1,401,449 12/1921 Snyder 108-154 2,599,404 6/ 1952 McLemore 248-165 2,761,743 9/1956 Cottar 108-116 X 2,794,496 6/1957 Strand 248-165 2,813,576 11/1957 Mayer 248-165 3,007,708 11/1961 Ochs 211-148 X 3,008,535 11/1961 De Vries 248-165 3,031,244 5/1962 Stopek 108-153 3,070,234 12/ 1962 Deitchman 211-148 X 3,138,262 6/1964 Anders 211-43 FOREIGN PATENTS 130,889 1/ 1949 Australia. 658,075 1/ 1929 France.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. McCALL, Examiner. 

1. A KNOCK-DOWN SUPPORT COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF PARALLEL HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TOP MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED AND LATERALLY SPACED NOTCHED AND HOOK MEANS, (B) A PAIR OF GENERALLY U-SHAPED TUBULAR LEG ELEMENTS HAVING THE BASE PORTION OF EACH U-SHAPED ELEMENT ENGAGEABLE IN SAID NOTCH MEANS, (C) BAIL MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID LEG PORTIONS OF SAID U-SHAPED ELEMENTS AND ENGAGEABLE IN SAID HOOK MEANS TO FIX SAID LEG ELEMENTS TO SAID MEMBERS, AND 